ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-Babcock University’s Department of Civil Engineering has celebrated a 200-level student Peace Chibuike-Ihema with the launch of her debut novel, Olivia.
The event, which took place at the Pioneer Youth Multi-purpose Centre, attracted academics, students, family members, and former school administrators, highlighting a growing culture of literary expression within the university’s engineering community.
Chibuike-Ihema, who described writing as a therapeutic hobby, shared her journey into the world of storytelling.
“Writing is a pastime for me. I enjoy writing, and whenever I receive inspiration, I record my thoughts before attending to other tasks,” she said.
The author also expressed her passion for reading, painting, drawing, and baking, indicating a well-rounded creative personality beyond her engineering studies.
Representing the President/Vice Chancellor, Professor Ademola Tayo, Professor David Alao, Chief of Staff, congratulated the young author and encouraged students to embrace writing as a means of leaving a personal legacy.
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“This achievement should inspire other students to document their thoughts and explore new possibilities,” he said.
Dean of the School of Engineering, Professor Ezekiel Adeniran, described the launch as a historic beginning for the School of Engineering Students’ Week and emphasized that engineers can also be creative thinkers and literary contributors.
Also speaking at the event, the Head of the Civil Engineering Department, Dr. Adeyemi Adeboye, represented by Engineer Adefunmi Adelewo, commended Chibuike-Ihema’s courage and commitment.
“She has made the department proud by stepping out of the conventional mold and showing the world a different side of engineering students,” he stated.
The novel, Olivia, was reviewed by Dr. Joshua Suleiman, Director of Marketing and Communication, who described it as a deeply emotional and imaginative exploration of love, personal growth, and self-discovery.
“Olivia is a moving story that will make you cry, reflect, and see life through a more compassionate lens,” Suleiman said.
The event featured goodwill messages from students, church members, and family, with the author expressing heartfelt gratitude to her parents, editor, department, and the university for their support.
With the successful launch of Olivia, Babcock University continues to reinforce its commitment to nurturing talent across diverse fields, even beyond the boundaries of traditional academic disciplines.